The hum of generators filled the airwaves between Kanawha and Clay counties. Residents in this rural pocket lost power on June 29 after the first big storm. Power there was restored Wednesday afternoon, but people said those twelve days without electricity made them feel powerless in several ways.
"You feel like you're in no man's land. We're like the forgotten souls here at the end of the line that get no help," said Nancy Miller, a resident of Clendenin.
The Millers have been hand-washing clothes, cooking food on a skillet, and trying to keep cool. They have a generator, but it only powers a few circuits in their home. Throughout the past few years, frequent power outages have worn out their two other generators. Miller said they experience an outage at least once per month.
Neighbors agree with her. While the area's provider, Black Diamond Power, restored electricity around 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, people say they rarely receive updates from the company.
"We're old. This heat is hard on us. And my husband is older than I am. It's not been comfortable at all," Miller said.
Her next-door neighbor, Mick Mullins, tried contacting Black Diamond on Tuesday. He even showed up in person at their Clay County office. But they refused to answer his one question: "When will the power come back on?"
"It's frustrating there are people a mile away with electricity and have had it, while us and people along the river have been out since the storm began," Mullins said. "We just don't get answers from Black Diamond Power. They're saying it's not a Black Diamond Power problem, it's an AEP problem. But I can't call AEP."
That's because Mullins doesn't hold an AEP account. He said his information remains with Black Diamond Power.
These people joined thousands of West Virginians in a waiting game until power returned. But Miller and Mullins said they feel the next power outage will happen in only a matter of weeks-- and they hope they can handle it.
WOWK contacted Black Diamond Power's corporate office in Charleston, but they declined to comment.
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